The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Kyocera Solar to Begin Solar Module Manufacturing in San Diego
Kyocera Solar Inc. plans to begin manufacturing solar modules in San Diego this year, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company said Wednesday.
Can Tax Incentives Bring Back Manufacturing to California?
The Energy Commission has $95 million more in incentives. And Governor Arnold is developing his own spiffs, too.
The Outlook for Solar: Q&A with Borrego Solar CEO
Borrego is a fast-growth company that finances, designs, and installs grid-connected photovoltaic solar systems. Much of Borrego Solar’s business is concentrated in New England and California.
California Proposes First Renewable Energy Storage Requirements
California Attorney General Jerry Brown has announced a completely new kind of renewable energy legislation, introduced by State Assembly member Nancy Skinner (D) – designed to add more renewable energy storage to the grid.
Alcatraz Island to Get Solar Panels
The National Park Service, which oversees the island, said Friday it will fund a project to put more than 1,000 solar panels on the main prison and laundry building.
NATIONAL NEWS
Senator Harry Reid Named 2009 National Solar Energy Champion of the Year
SEIA awards Senate Majority Leader for national and state leadership.
SunPower Awarded 200 MW Contract
SunPower Corporation has won a contract from Southern California Edison to provide solar technology for generating up to 200 megawatts, or 80 percent, of the solar power capacity needed for the utility’s large solar photovoltaic installation program.
SunLink Starts Shipping Mounting Solution to 5 MW Project
SunLink® Corporation today announced that its roof module mounting solution has begun shipping for one of the nation’s largest municipal solar installation, a five megawatt project located on the Sunset Reservoir in San Francisco, California.
Pursuing Solar Energy
13 states, including neighboring Michigan and Pennsylvania, now have more solar manufacturers than Ohio.
First Solar Signs 300 MW Contract with PG&E
First Solar today announced a power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company with renewable electricity from a 300 megawatt (AC) utility-scale photovoltaic solar power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.
Massachusetts Homeowners Cut Electricity Rates up to 50%
Alteris Renewables partners with SunRun to let homeowners go solar for only $3,000 down with locked-in rates for 18 years
Arizona Corporation Commission Approves APS AZ Sun Solar Program
Until the time that the costs of the first 50 MW of the AZ Sun program are recovered in base rates, the costs will be recovered through the existing Renewable Energy Surcharge.
World Class Flowers Unveils 178kW Solar Energy System
World Class Flowers expects to reduce its electricity costs by more than $130,000 and generate close to $600,000 in SREC revenue over the next five years, with its new solar energy system installed by Mercury Solar Systems.
Chicago Ventures into Distributed Solar Energy
Chicago utility company ComEd (an arm of the energy giant Exelon Corporation) has a new pilot project in this field that will outfit 100 Chicago-area homes with solar photovoltaic panels and “at least 50 of those with ’smart’ meters.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Planned Electric Rate Increase in Los Angeles May Affect Solar Power
LADWP is poised to pass a roughly 5 percent rate increase on electricity use. The proceeds would be earmarked for renewable energy purchases and programs, including one that would repay people or businesses that use solar panels to contribute to the power grid.
Probe of PG&E Meters to Begin Soon
California energy regulators say they will soon begin investigating new Pacific Gas and Electric Co. meters that some customers have blamed for higher energy bills.
DWP Drops Plan to Build 85 Mile Power Transmission Line Across the Desert
Facing enormous costs and fierce opposition from environmental groups, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Wednesday announced that it has dropped plans to build an 85-mile-long “green” power transmission line across desert wilderness preserves and scenic ridgelines.
Smart Meter Backlash, Again: This Time in Texas
The Dallas Morning News reports that “hundreds” of Texans who received smart meters in Oncor’s service territory are complaining about the accuracy of the meters after receiving unusually high energy bills after the meters were installed.
PG&E May give Consumers Data on Daily Power Consumption
Now you’ll have to keep up with the Joneses when it comes to power consumption.
Japan, New Mexico Collaborate on Smart Grid Tech
Officials with Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization were in New Mexico on Friday to sign a memorandum of understanding that spells out the four-year demonstration project.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Solar Power Could Provide 10% of US Energy
The United States could source 10 percent of its electricity from solar power by 2030, a report said Tuesday, winning support from a US lawmaker who wants to boost the number of US solar panels.
After Boom and Bust, Solar Power Has a Place in the Spanish Sun
Puertollano’s wrenching fall points to the delicate policy calculations needed to stimulate nascent solar industries and create green jobs, and might serve as a cautionary tale for the United States, where a similar exercise is now under way.
Will Agribusiness Be a Growth Market for Solar?
Two businesses that depend on the sun come together.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solar Power, Inc. Receives Initial $24.7M Commitment from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Solar Power, Inc. has received an initial commitment of $24.7 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds (RZFB) by Sacramento County.
Canadian Solar Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results
For the fourth quarter of 2009, net revenues were $287.0 million, compared to net revenues of $68.8 for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $213.1 million for the third quarter of 2009.
Suntech Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Results
Total net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $583.6 million, an increase of 23.4% from $473.1 million in the third quarter of 2009.
Phoenix Solar AG Releases Preliminary Figures for 2009 Financial Year
Phoenix Solar AG generated consolidated revenues of EUR 473.0 million in the financial year 2009, which corresponds to the upper range of the corridor forecast for revenues.
TECHNOLOGY
1366 Tech Leaping from Pure Silicon to Solar Wafer
Solar start-up 1366 Technologies is developing a technology to convert raw silicon ingots directly into solar cells, a process that could slash solar manufacturing costs.
Showa Shell Shows Off Second Gen CIGS Panel
Efficiency in the champion cell is at 16 percent.
Solar Inverter News Roundup
There has been a furious flurry of activity in the PV inverter market of late, including design wins, funding, personnel moves and earnings reports.
Jewel-like Curtains on Windows Create Solar Energy
A prototype gets a real-world tryout after the opening this week of an eco-friendly research building in Syracuse.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SMA to Launch Facility in Ontario
SMA Solar Technology AG this week announced plans to form a subsidiary in Canada. The company plans to invest between €5 and 10 million initially and a site is expected to be chosen in the first half of 2010.
Solar Prospectors Chase ‘Gold Mine’ Deals in China, Israel
Olivier de Vergnies quit managing family fortunes at Dexia Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. in 2008 to run a New York start-up at 100 Wall St. that’s trying to tap riches in solar energy.
Canadian Feed-in Tariff Approves Solar Projects
The feed-in tariff in the province of Ontario has approved the first trache of larger solar energy projects.
SunEdison to Build Europes Largest Solar Power Plant in Rovigo, Italy
When completed, this is expected to be the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Europe.
DelSolar to Proceed with 900 MW Cell and Module Manufacturing Plant
The Board of DelSolar has approved the construction of a new manufacturing plant in Jhunan, Taiwan. The HsinChu Science Park Administration has already approved DelSolar’s proposed rental of 1.8 hectares of land for the construction of a new plant.
Trina Solar Signs Sales Agreement with US Distributor Essco
Trina Solar’s subsidiary has signed a sales agreement with Essco Wholesale Electric, Inc., the southwest US company of Sonepar USA, a full-service commercial, utility and residential electric distributor with locations throughout the United States.
SOLON SE Signs 20 MW Framework Agreement
The total quantity of the contract amounts to approximately 20 MW, or 90,000 modules, for the first year.
ReneSola Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results
Total solar product shipments in Q4 2009 were 202.9 MW, an increase of 38.1% from 146.9 MW for Q3 2009, exceeding the Company’s guidance.
CNPV Solar Power Signs Module Supply Agreement with South Korea’s Techbank
Under the terms of this strategic agreement, CNPV will supply Techbank with a total of 36MWp of PV Modules from 2010 to 2012, which includes 10MWp of scheduled delivery during 2010.
SunPower and K6 Partner on Two Solar Power Plants in Italy
SunPower Corporation and K6 S.a.S. today announced an agreement under which the companies are building two 1-megawatt photovoltaic solar power plants in the Puglia region, Italy.
Prothea S.r.l. Developing Three Photovoltaic Projects in Central and Southern Italy
They are located in Calabria Region, Catanzaro Province, Municipality of Cropani and two in the Lazio Region, Viterbo Province, Municipality of Viterbo.
Aleo Solar Announces 2009 Financial Results
Aleo solar AG has announced revenue of EUR 376.1 million (previous year: EUR 360.5 million) and EBIT of 16.0 million (previous year: EUR 23.8 million) for financial year 2009, according to preliminary calculations.
Yingli Announces Fourth Quarter Results; Expands Production Capacity
Total net revenues were RMB 2,530.9 million (US$370.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase of 13.7% from RMB 2,225.2 million in the third quarter of 2009 and an increase of 43.7% from RMB 1,761.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.
China Gogreen Assets Starts Construction on 100MW Thin Film Plant
The Group also announced the entering of purchase and operation contracts with Apollo Precision (Fujian) Limited and GS-Solar Company Limited respectively.
Czech Renewable Energy Exceeds Grid Limit
The installed capacity of wind and solar energy projects approved in the Czech Republic is nearly four times what can be safely fed into the country’s electricity grid, energy distributors said.
The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
NATIONAL NEWS
ProLogis to Develop 2.4MW Rooftop Solar Project in Oregon
Once completed, this project will be the largest rooftop solar system in the Pacific Northwest.
Geoscape Solar Continues its Residential NJ Solar Leasing Program Despite Uncertainty about the Future of State Subsidies
Possible N.J. Clean Energy Budget Cutbacks Reinforce and Increase Value of Leasing for Consumers.
Hoku Solar to Install a 339kW Solar Power System for New Diagnostic Laboratory Services Facility
Hoku reported it had been selected by Diagnostic Laboratory Services through a competitive bidding process, and that it had entered into a subcontract with Allied Builders System to install the 339-kilowatt, turnkey PV system.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Chicago Utility to Test Distributed Solar
ComEd is planning a distributed solar array that will involve outfitting 100 Chicago-area homes with solar photovoltaic panels.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
UK Solar Industry May Grow 50-fold, Create Jobs
Britain’s solar industry may create thousands of jobs and expand by a factor of 50 after the government guaranteed above-market prices for clean power sources, the head of Sharp Corp.’s U.K. solar division said.
Japanese Solar Power Groups Lift Capacity
Japanese solar-panel manufacturers are expanding capacity in spite of concerns about oversupply in the sector, as they eye long-term growth in demand for renewable energy.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Cap and Trade to be Left Out of Latest Senate Climate Bill
In the latest effort to craft a climate bill capable of passing the Senate, the trio of senators at the center of the legislative push—John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-NC), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT)—have gotten rid of cap and trade in favor of a plan that would target sectors of the economy most responsible for carbon emissions
Save the Climate Bill – Rebrand Cap and Trade
Think growth, not tax, says Matt Lecar.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SolarCity Creates New $90 Million Fund
SolarCity yesterday announced a new fund to finance an additional $90 million in commercial and residential solar projects in 2010 with U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation (USBCDC), a division of U.S. Bancorp.
Konarka Gets $20M More for Organic Cells
$150 million raised, so far, on a decade-long quest for low-efficiency, niche market solar cells.
Canadian Solar Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results
For the fourth quarter of 2009, net revenues were $287.0 million, compared to net revenues of $68.8 for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $213.1 million for the third quarter of 2009.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Bosch & Sustainable Energy Partner in Canada
The two companies have set installations targets of between 10 and 15 megawatts (MW) for 2010 and between 50 and 75 MW for 2011.
Q-Cells Largest PV System Integrator in 2009
Q-Cells International was the largest PV system integrator in 2009 having gained significant market share according to a recently released study by IMS Research.
France Builds Biggest Ever Solar Plant
French energy giant EDF is building the world’s biggest photovoltaic solar power plant at an abandoned NATO air base and plans to have it open by 2012.
The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
What Berkeley Can Teach Us About Taking Clean Energy Programs to Scale
With Berkeley’s pilot program now completed, it is time to take stock of what was learned through the experiment.
Generate Renewable Energy on Bay Bridge Span
Imagine, for instance, that experimental wind turbines dotted the structure, corkscrews whirling in the stiff afternoon wind. Or a thin-sliced row of photovoltaic solar panels stretched across the top of the span, harvesting the sun on all but the foggiest days.
NATIONAL NEWS
Konarka Announces Business Collaboration and Strategic Investment with Konica Minolta
The companies reached agreement to start full-scale collaboration in April in the joint development and distribution of organic thin-film photovoltaics.
Second Large-Scale Solar Project Completed at Denver International Airport
1.6 MW System at Airport’s Fuel Facility is Comprised of more than 7,300 Sharp Solar Panels.
Xcel Energy Launches Solar Rewards in Minnesota
Xcel Energy is now offering incentives to Minnesota electricity customers to install solar panels on top of their homes and businesses.
Illinois Green Energy Finance Initiative
A recent initiative from Illinois may serve as a model for other states that hope to attract green energy projects and stimulate economic development.
Solar Energy Initiatives Announces rand Opening of Technical Solar School
The new school is funded by stimulus dollars provided to the Company by collaborating public partners.
NPD Group Acquires Solarbuzz Market Research Firm
Market research firm The NPD Group said Monday it has acquired Solarbuzz, a solar energy market research and consulting company.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Utilities Push Back on FERC’s Transmission Authority
The Coalition for Fair Transmission Policy — an industry group made up of 10 big utilities including Southern Co., Consolidated Edison, Alliant, DTE Energy, PPL, Progress Energy and PSEG — says it will lobby to change proposed Senate legislation that it says could unfairly spread the costs of building big new transmission lines across multiple states.
PG&E Plans to Spend $7B to $10B on Projects Over Next 2 Years
PG&E Corp. (PCG) executives said Monday the company’s utility plans to spend between $7 billion and $10 billion over the next two years, on its electricity and natural gas distribution system, building new transmission and generation facilities, installing smart meters and other projects.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Solar Market Competition Set to Intensify
Even though installations of photovoltaic solar systems will rise in 2010, a sharp drop in solar components prices will lead to intense competition, as per iSuppli Corp.
TECHNOLOGY
Renewables Well Represented in MIT Technology Review’s 2010 TR50
The energy companies in the TR50 reflect both the invention of exciting new technologies and progress in deploying more mature technologies.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Kyocera Plans 1 GW Production Capacity by 2013
Kyocera Corporation has recently completed construction of a new solar cell manufacturing plant; further increasing the company’s production capacity to meet the growing demand for solar energy products in the global market.
India Proposes Coal Tax for Clean Energy
The Indian government proposed a coal tax Friday aimed at creating a fund for promoting clean energy.
Qatar to Tap Solar Power in a Big Way
A state-run foundation in the natural gas-rich state of Qatar says it is setting up a joint venture plant with Germany’s SolarWorld to produce the main ingredient in solar panels.
Yingli Green Energy to Supply 10MW of PV Modules to SunDurance Energy
Under the terms of the agreement, Yingli Green Energy will supply more than 10 MW of PV modules to SunDurance Energy through the third quarter of 2010.
Sustainable Energy Bets on Ontario Solar Market
The company, whose shares have risen 150 percent in the past year, also expects to announce a tie-up soon with a top European solar panel maker to supply the Ontario market with thin-film panels carrying Sustainable Energy’s power inverters, its chief executive said on Monday.
GTZ Plans 15,000 Solar Projects Per Month
The GTZ is planning to install 15,000 solar systems per month in Ethiopia, where only less than one per cent of the rural population uses solar power because of low investment in the sector.
Maratifer Solar’s Solar Roof System Resists Hurricaine Force Winds
Martifer Solar, the Portuguese photovoltaic (PV) specialist, has developed a new solar roof system capable of withstanding winds of up to 200 km/h.
Suntech Recognized for its Bold Business Strategy
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., the world’s largest producer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, was recently handed the 2009 FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Environment Award in London for its inspired approach to business.
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